This week, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, a top Republican presidential candidate, traveled down a new road, speaking out against a civil-union law passed by the New Hampshire state Senate.

“Mayor Giuliani believes marriage is between one man and one woman,” the Giuliani campaign said, responding to a New York Sun query. “Domestic partnerships are the appropriate way to ensure that people are treated fairly. In this specific case, the law states same-sex civil unions are the equivalent of marriage and recognizes same sex unions from outside states. This goes too far, and Mayor Giuliani does not support it.”

In the past, Mr. Giuliani has stated that he favors civil unions and has signed legislation authorizing domestic partnerships. This apparent clarification of policy comes on the heels of Giuliani recently restating his support for the public funding of abortion.

For conservative Christians, Mr. Giuliani’s campaign is under great scrutiny. As my National Liberty Journal newspaper recently noted, he is the candidate we wish we could love. I personally have great respect for Mr. Giuliani in terms of his leadership in law and order and national defense issues. In these areas, I believe he would be a potentially great president.

But as America has come to a social and political crossroads in terms of the same-sex marriage debate, I am more concerned than ever that our leaders understand that traditional marriage is a foundational component of civilization, not an issue in which we can bounce around new ideas and pounce on the ones that are the most politically expedient.

In recent months, some judges have acquiesced to ever-changing social standards to sanction same-sex marriage (in many cases by ignoring the will of the people), leaving “values voters” more determined than ever to take a stand in protecting traditional marriage.

The definition of marriage has been fundamental to society for thousands of years, and the majority of Americans want to keep it that way, even as leftist political leaders, Hollywood and the so-called mainstream media campaign to promote sweeping change in redefining marriage and the culture.

Conservative Christians are looking for leaders who are robust defenders of marriage and will battle against the efforts of those who want a radical new meaning for it.

So while Mr. Giuliani’s abrupt rebuke of the New Hampshire Senate’s bill is welcomed, we are still hopeful for more encouraging evidence of his commitment to social conservatism.